Prague marks start of spring with 430-year-old fair

Prague's Matejska pout is the largest annual funfair in the Czech Republic. 

First held in 1595, it is also the oldest spring fair in Europe and marks its 430th anniversary in 2025.

Matejska pout is generally translated as "Matthew's Fair" in English. It started out as a religious festival, held to mark the Feast of St. Matthias, which originally fell on February 24. It symbolizes the arrival of spring and was originally celebrated to ensure a bountiful harvest.

The thrill rides and games, the food stalls, sweet treats and, of course, Czechia's famous beer attract up to 200,000 locals and tourists every year.

DW joined Monica, a Czech student, on her first visit to this Prague institution.